Ask the Author: Rick Brindle
Answered Questions (15)
Rick Brindle
I dreamed that my hand had been hacked off with an axe. I woke up, and saw my severed hand gripping an axe and coming towards me.
Rick Brindle
Tricky one, and for me, an answer that changes depending what I've most recently read. At the moment, it would be Richard Herley's post-apocalyptic world in The Refuge, if only to see if my (old) fieldcraft and survival skills were ever as good as John Suter's.
Rick Brindle
I'm working through Conn Iggulden's Ghengis Khan series, and have a few war history books I got at Christmas waiting to be read.
Rick Brindle
I guess for some readers, sure. I really don't want my books to be unaffordable. I've set the prices at the lowest point allowed by the publishers, and I hope I keep that point of view. Right now, my reader base is small, but as it builds, I don't want to get greedy and up the price just because I can. If it's up to me, they'll stay reasonably priced for ever.
Rick Brindle
Sadly my life is very organised, so I'd have to make up a few mysteries. Good job I'm a writer! I think a few aspects of my life would be a good basis for a book, but I'd have to use some creative licence to make it exciting. A few starting points would be my short career in the air force, perhaps a few (made up) dramas from my nursing career, some stories from working in police custodies, or maybe a few made up stories from my travels around the world. On reflection, I'm glad I'd have to make something up rather than live the life of dramas so intense you could tell stories about them.
Rick Brindle
The Flashmans, Harry and Elspeth. Because despite Flashy supposedly being a coward, he's not, despite his many infidelities, he forgives any she may or may not have had in advance, because they are both soul mates, because the stories are so much deeper than a humorous romp, and becasue they both really do love each other.
Rick Brindle
So to answer this question now for An Angel's Alternative, probably I stand Alone, by Jackyl, from their self titled album. I like to think of myself like that as well at times, like a last man standing.
Rick Brindle
A hard question to narrow down to one song. If Cold Steel on the Rocks ever gets made into a film, one of the things I'd insist on is choosing the playlist. There are many songs that are appropriate to one particular point of the novel, but an excellent summary of it would be Stand, by Alice Cooper, a bonus track on the Dirty Diamonds album. And a song that I can also identify with.
Rick Brindle
I'd say both are important. But for me, the emphasis is definitely on entertaining. An Angel's Alternative, I hope, informs the reader about life at the sharp end of healthcare, but in a way that they enjoy the story. Cold Steel on the Rocks, is for me, an absolute homage to heavy metal, but along the way, I'd hope the reader learns something about the passion that us crusty old rockers have for the music, and how it can reach into you and lift you like nothing else can.
Of course, that is just my take on writing. I suppose if you asked a hundred different writers that question, you'd get a hundred different answers.
Of course, that is just my take on writing. I suppose if you asked a hundred different writers that question, you'd get a hundred different answers.
Rick Brindle
Think about what you're writing, without actually writing anything, plan your story, don't set yourself unachievable goals, only write a little bit if you're not in the mood. Something is always better than nothing.
Rick Brindle
In these days of self publishing, it's great to be able to tell your story, whatever it is, and get it out there.
Rick Brindle
Get your ideas down on paper, seek good editorial advice, don't be scared to change your story, and never ever give up.
Rick Brindle
My second novel is undergoing the editing process right now. It's comic fiction about a heavy metal band called Cold Steel. The singer is obsessed with pirates, and they go off on a treasure hunt in the Caribbean, getting into all sorts of trouble along the way.
Rick Brindle
I think of a start to the story, then I think about it for a while, see if I can develop it into a novel. Not all of my planned stories or novels actually get very far, I've got loads of half-finished projects.
Rick Brindle
An Angel's Alternative, my only book (so far). It's set in a hospital, and I worked in hospitals for about 15 years. I felt the reality was very rarely seen, either in the news or when fictionalised on TV etc. So based on my insights, I made up a plotline that I hope is both entertaining and informative.
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